#TBT The Meadow

Shadows of Riva Ridge and Secretariat

It’s almost like a ghost of a ghost, now … but a few original buildings from Christopher T. Chenery’s The Meadow farm linger at what is now Meadow Event Park near Doswell, Virginia. Recently, on the way to somewhere else, I saw that a gate was open and stopped in to commune.

If you know, you know: not far from the yearling barn are gravestones for Imperatrice (second dam of Secretariat), Hill Prince (Meadow homebred Hall of Fame champion), Sun Beau (Hall of Fame champion who ended his days at The Meadow), and Blue (probably a beloved pony). Paying respects to them was my first thought.

Then the yearling barn.

Unlike Secretariat’s foaling shed—which was moved across the road from its original location—the yearling barn remains rooted where originally planted. The hay loft doors give it (and the nearby stallion barn) a country chapel look.

Airy is the word I kept feeling, standing near the stall where Riva, then Secretariat, each stayed as top yearling of their respective years (1970, 1971). This shed row breathes.